Hessian mountain road
The Hessische Bergstrasse wine-growing area in accordance with Section 3 (1) No. 4 of the Wine Act in Hesse , located on the western slope of the Odenwald towards the Upper Rhine Plain , includes the Starkenburg and Umstadt wine-growing areas, as well as two individual vineyards in Dietzenbach and Brensbach . With around 440 hectares of cultivation area, it is one of the smallest wine-growing regions in Germany.
Definition of the specific growing area
The vineyards in the cities and communities Alsbach-Hähnlein , Brensbach , Bensheim , Dietzenbach , Groß-Umstadt , Heppenheim (Bergstrasse) , Roßdorf , Seeheim-Jugenheim and Zwingenberg form the specific growing area for quality wine Hessische Bergstrasse.
The area is congruent with the country wine area Starkenburger Landwein according to the Wine Ordinance § 2 as well as part of the much larger area Landwein Rhein .
location
The wine-growing area is located on the western slope and the northern foothills of the Odenwald. It extends from Seeheim-Jugenheim and Alsbach with a few vineyards in the north to the Hessian-Baden-Württemberg state border south of Heppenheim . The largest cultivation areas are between Zwingenberg and Heppenheim.
In the north, near Roßdorf and Dietzenbach, there are smaller and near Groß-Umstadt larger cultivated areas, which as the “Odenwälder Weininsel” geographically no longer belong to the Bergstrasse . To the south of the wine field includes Badische mountain road of the wine region Baden on.
The well-known mild climate of the Bergstrasse, which is also known as the German Riviera , is particularly beneficial for viticulture. In addition, there is the favorable soil for the vines. The terrain is very rugged and has many steep slopes. These demanding locations, also in an area with relatively high living costs compared to the rest of Germany, make cultivating the vineyards laborious and cost-intensive.
history
The Hessian Bergstrasse has only existed as an independent wine-growing region since 1971. Before that, it formed the Bergstrasse wine-growing region together with the Badische Bergstrasse . A new wine law made restructuring measures in Baden necessary. Baden claimed that part of the mountain road that lies within its national borders. This affects the area south of Heppenheim. The northern part of the Bergstrasse, the Hessische Bergstrasse, was originally intended to be added to the Rheingau . However, since this did not make sense geographically or administratively, the smallest wine-growing region in Germany at that time was created.
The Romans probably started viticulture about 2,000 years ago on the Strata montana (mountain road). Viticulture was first mentioned in the 8th century in the Lorsch Codex ( Codex Laureshamensis ).
Area and yield
The cultivation area in 2008 is around 439 ha (= 4.4 km 2 ). This makes the Hessische Bergstrasse one of the smallest wine-growing regions in Germany. The yield of wine must averaged over several years at 84.1 hl / ha. This corresponds to around 0.3% of German wine production. The wine is mainly sold to end consumers in the growing area by self-marketing. The relatively small cultivation area is cultivated by a relatively large number of winemakers. Over 600 winemakers are united in the Bergsträßer Winzer eG in Heppenheim and in the Odenwälder Winzergenossenschaft in Groß-Umstadt. There are many small vineyards with many after-work or hobby winegrowers.
Locations and grape varieties
The wine-growing area is divided into two areas : Umstadt (no large sites) and Starkenburg with the three major sites : Auerbacher Rott , Bensheimer Wolfsmagen and Heppenheimer Schloßberg and, since 2015, a total of 24 individual sites.
The layers are divided as follows:
Starkenburg area
- Seeheimer mouth blades (free of large layers)
- Large site Auerbacher Rott with the individual sites Alsbacher Schöntal, Zwingenberger Alte Burg (in Zwingenberg and Auerbach), Zwingenberger Steingeröll , Auerbacher Höllberg, Schönberger Herrnwingert , Auerbacher Fürstenlager (in Auerbach , Bensheim and Schönberg ),
- Large area Bensheimer Wolfsmagen with the individual layers Bensheimer Kirchberg, Bensheimer Kalkgasse , Bensheimer Streichling (in Bensheim and Zell ), Bensheimer Hemsberg (in Bensheim, Zell and Gronau ) and Bensheimer Paulus
- Large-scale Heppenheimer Schloßberg with the individual layers Heppenheimer Centgericht (17 ha), Heppenheimer Stemmler (105 ha in Heppenheim and Unter-Hambach ), Heppenheimer Steinkopf (35.9 ha in Heppenheim and Unter-Hambach), Heppenheimer Maiberg (in Heppenheim, Unter Hambach and Erbach ) and Heppenheimer Eckweg (115.6 ha). Until 2005 there was the 19.6 hectare single vineyard Heppenheimer Guldenzoll , in the south of Heppenheim, near the state border. It was incorporated into the Heppenheimer Eckweg location .
The Hessische Bergstrasse is known for its outstanding Rieslings . With around 53%, Riesling is by far the most common grape variety on the Bergstrasse. It is followed by Müller-Thurgau with 10.1% and 8.3% Pinot Gris . The white wines together have a share of almost 88%. In recent years, the red Riesling has also been increasingly grown and offered in order to be able to offer an autochthonous grape variety for the Hessian Bergstrasse. Red wines are clearly in the minority with the remaining 12%, but their share is increasing steadily. Mainly the varieties Pinot Noir , Dornfelder and St. Laurent are grown here. To the surprise of many, there are also southern European varieties such as Primitivo or Cabernet Sauvignon on the Hessian Bergstrasse , which thrive in the mild climate and produce exciting wines.
Umstadt area
In the Umstadt area, the large-scale single layers Roßdorfer Roßberg, Umstädter Stachelberg (in Klein-Umstadt and Kleestadt ), Umstädter Steingerück (in Groß-Umstadt) and Umstädter Herrnberg (in Groß-Umstadt and Heubach ).
Among other things, Riesling (29%), from which in some years even dry berry selection qualities are obtained, Müller-Thurgau (15%), which achieves an unusually high quality due to the loess soil, Silvaner (10%), Kerner (5%), and others like Scheurebe , Weißer Burgunder, Chardonnay , Ehrenfelser , Gewürztraminer and Grauer Burgunder.
Auslese and late harvest qualities are often grown from different grape varieties , and in many years even Beerenauslese , Trockenbeerenauslese and Eisweine .
Pinot Noir and Dornfelder dominate the red wines, and Portuguese , Regent , Acolon , Domina and others are also grown .
Area-free individual layers
Furthermore, the individual layers Brensbacher Heilige Tanne and Dietzenbacher Wingertsberg are defined, but are not cultivated.
Heppenheim Cent Court
The Heppenheimer Centgericht vineyard is named after the former court on the Heppenheimer Landberg . This is where the Hessian vine mother garden used to be. In 1927 this was built to produce phylloxera-resistant rootstocks for the production of grafted vines. The vineyard area is around 17 hectares, of which Riesling and Ruländer (Pinot Gris) have a share of around 70%. Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir share the rest. The location is characterized by climatically favorable south-west to west-facing slopes. The vines thrive on light and partly sandy loam soils. The wine is said to have a fruity, flowery fine and sustainable note.
Heppenheimer Stemmler
In 1480 he was mentioned as Stemmeler , previously as Stennühel (stone hill). The vineyard area is approx. 105 hectares, which form an expansive south, south-west and west location around the hilltop of the Hubenhecke. Here too, Riesling cultivation dominates. In addition, there are Ruländer, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Some of the vines grow on granite subsoil with loess and clay soils. There is also drifting sand at the foot of the slope. The location is known for hearty, strong and predominantly dry wines.
Major producers
The Hessian State Wineries are the only VDP winery on Bergstrasse and manage 7.5% of the vineyards with a total of 32.6 hectares. The DLG-recommended wineries there include Bergsträßer Winzer eG, the Odenwälder Winzergenossenschaft and, as a private company, the Simon-Bürkle winery in Zwingenberg.
Wine queens
The Hessische Bergstrasse wine-growing region elects an area wine queen every year, the Bergstrasse wine queen . It represents the growing area and its wines at events as an advertising and popular figure.
The current Bergstrasse wine queen 2017/2018 is Jessica Lehmann from Bensheim.
Petra Gärtner was the only German wine queen from the Hessian Bergstrasse in 2001/2002 . With Christel Emmerich from Groß-Umstadt (1978/1979), Lisa Edling from Roßdorf (2003/2004), Caroline Guthier from Heppenheim (2015/2016), Charlotte Freiberger from Heppenheim (2017/2018) and Carolin Hillenbrand from Heppenheim (2019 / 2020) five German wine princesses came from the Hessian Bergstrasse.
Events
In Bensheim (on the first weekend in September) and Groß-Umstadt (on the first weekend after September 15) there are wine festivals once a year , in Zwingenberg the wine market (on the Whitsun weekend on the historic market square in the heart of the old town). In Heppenheim is Bergsträßer wine market organized (he is held annually for 10 days instead, from the last weekend in June to the first weekend in July; there are up to 100,000 visitors).
On May 1st of each year, the young winemakers in the Hessian Bergstrasse winegrowing association organize the vineyard hike . It leads about 21 km through the vineyards from Zwingenberg to Heppenheim and can be hiked in both directions. The route mainly follows the "Bergsträßer Weinlagenweg" which is well signposted with a white Roman and a green WLW sign. Access is also possible in any desired area along the federal highway 3 (the route begins in Alsbach and leads through the vineyards above and partly through the towns of Zwingenberg, Auerbach , Bensheim and Heppenheim and ends at the Hessian-Baden border). There are permanent information boards along the route that provide information about the vineyards and the "Hessische Bergstrasse" wine-growing region. During the vineyard hike, there are around eight supply stations (with the offer: cheese, sausage, pretzels and vintner rolls) and local vintners' tasting stands in the locations from north to south: "Steingeröll", "Höllberg", "Fürstenlager" "," Kirchberg "," Streichling "," Paulus "," Steinkopf "and" Schlossberg ". Around 150 voluntary helpers are on duty. The proceeds will be donated in full to the Hessian Bergstrasse winegrowing association for advertising purposes. Inquiries from other interested parties to set up their own stands along the vineyard hike will be rejected without exception "to preserve the character of the vineyard hike". The vineyard hike has been taking place since 1988. The number of participants ranges from around 5,000 (1988) to around 30,000 to 40,000 (2009).
Web links
- Internet presence of the Weinbauverband Hessische Bergstrasse
- Old vineyards in the Hessische Bergstrasse area
- Bergstrasse vineyard hike on May 1st
Individual evidence
- ↑ German Wine Institute : Statistics 2009/2010 . Mainz 2009 ( deutscheweine.de [PDF; 219 kB ]).
- ^ Regional council: Info sheet: Geographical information .
- ↑ § 2
- ↑ a b wein.de, Hessische Bergstrasse ( Memento of the original from March 10, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed January 16, 2007.
- ↑ wein-ziel.de, Hessische Bergstraße ( Memento of the original from December 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed January 16, 2007.
- ↑ deutschland-vinothek.de, Hessische Bergstrasse ( memento of October 9, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 12, 2010 at Internet Archive.
- ↑ Wine Guide, Die Bergstraße ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 1.2 MB).
- ↑ The Guldenzoll is being phased out - the small vineyard site in Heppenheim's south is incorporated into Eckweg ( memento from October 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Bergsträßer Anzeiger from March 20, 2004 at Internet Archive.
- ^ Weinbauverband Hessische Bergstraße eV: List of wine sovereignties from 2000/2001 .
- ↑ a b c d e Darmstädter Echo online from April 30, 2010: Vineyard hike: nature experience and conviviality ( memento of the original from May 1, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .
- ↑ Not too humid and not too hot ( Memento from October 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Bergsträßer Anzeiger from May 2, 2007 at Internet Archive
- ^ Water March and Wine without End ( Memento from October 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Mannheimer Morgen from May 2, 2005 at Internet Archive
Coordinates: 49 ° 43 ′ 0 ″ N , 8 ° 37 ′ 0 ″ E